Metal alloy and process of producing the same



.l'ES B. GRENAGLE, 01F CATONSVILLE, ".M'YLAND, MSIGNOB TO THE RARE METALS REDUCTION COMPANY, 015 BALTIMORE, M

r: YLAND, A CURPORA- METAL 0'3? AND PROCESS @325 IEFDDUGHTG THE S.

Ito Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, J AMES B. GRENAGLE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Catonsville, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Alloys and Processes of Producing the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a new metal alloy having many valuable properties particularly adapted for use in laboratory apparatus and electrolytic cells and for use in the chemical electrical, and electro-chemical arts Where platinum is now commonly used.

The invention also includes the process of producing the alloy.

In the production of my alloy I employ molybdenum and tantalum, the former being preferably emplo ed in an amount ma terially in excess of t e tantalum. Particularly good results are obtained by emplo ing from sixty to ninety per cent. of moly denum and from forty to ten per cent. of tantalum. The metals must be substantially free from iron and preferably chemically pure. I prefer to employ the metals in my alloy in the proportions of approximately seventy-five arts by weight of molybdenum and twentyve parts by weight of tantalum.

In producing my alloy the metals are heated in an electric furnace in vacuum until they are freely fluid. The alloy is kept at a temperature to maintain it in a freely fluid condition for a substantial period of time, preferably about fifteen minutes. The temperature is then reduced until the alloy is in a less fluid condition and this temperature is maintained for a substantial period, preferably for about fifteen minutes. The purpose of reducing the temperature of the alloy and maintaining it at the lower temfipecification of Letters IPatent. Patented July 319, T921. .Jltpplication filed December at, 1919. Serial No. $497,064.

perature for a substantial period is to prevent the alloy from becoming crystallized or brittle when cool and to produce an alloy which is highly malleable and ductile.

The alloy is then allowed to cool and is ready for use.

I have found it advantageous to heat the metals in a crucible of zirconium cement produced by mixing powdered zirconium oxid with unslaked lime and water to form a plastic mass. This mixture is given the desired shape and is then subjected to a high telltfitil'atllrfi until it is hardened or baked.

l alloy has a melting point above 2,000 (3., and is highly resistant to the action of chemical agents. It is not attacked by hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, or cold hydrofluoric acid. It is resistant to the action of liquids and ases at even very high temperatures and oes not discolor at high temperatures when heated in air or other gases. It has a high tensile strength and is ductile and malleable.

While I have set forth the preferred pro portions it is to be understood that these proportions ma be materially varied without departing id om the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An alloy containing 60 to 90% molybdenum and 4:0 to 10% tantalum.

2. The process of producing an alloy con tainingmolybdenum and tantalum which consists in heating the metals in vacuum until they are freely fluid, reducing the temperature of the alloy until it is semi-fluid and maintaining the alloy in a semiflui condition for a substantial period. I

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JAMES B. GRENAGLE. 

